A teenage misfit named
Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person
Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her
boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty
crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she
decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her
job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk — but it's just what Hawthorn
needs to find her own place in the world. (Goodreads)

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

FlowerBy: Shea Olsen and Elizabeth CraftRelease Date: January 3, 2017

These are the things that I've always wanted: To get the top grades in my class. To make my grandmother proud. And most of all, proof that I could succeed where the rest of my family had not: a Stanford acceptance letter, early admission. My mother and my sister were obsessed with boys and love and sex. So obsessed that they lost sight of their futures, of what they wanted. And in the end, they lost everything. I'll never let a boy distract me. I promised my grandmother that. But that was before Tate.Before the biggest pop star on the planet took an interest in me. Before private planes and secret dates and lyrics meant for me alone. There's
so much I don't know. Like why he left music. Where he goes when we're
not together. What dark past he's hiding. But when we kiss, the future
feels far away. And now…I'm not sure what I want (Goodreads)

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

This Is My Brain On BoysBy: Sarah StrohmeyerReleased: May 10, 2016Source: EdelweissPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewAddie Emerson doesn’t
believe in love. Not for herself, anyway. With one year left of high
school, she’s more interested in snagging a full scholarship to Harvard
than a full-time boyfriend. That doesn’t mean she’s oblivious to
the ways of the heart. Or, rather, the head. Because after months of
research, Addie has discovered how to make anyone fall in love. All you
need is the secret formula. But will her discovery be enough to
win the coveted Athenian Award and all its perks? (See above, full
scholarship to Harvard.) Or will she be undone by Dexter, her
backstabbing lab partner, who is determined to deep-six her experiments
at their exclusive private school? Those are the least of her
problems now that she’s survived a death-defying flight with a
mysterious, dark-haired boy, who has delicious chocolate-brown eyes and a
few secrets of his own. With an experiment to mastermind, an
infatuated exchange student on her hands, and at least one great white
shark (more on that later), can Addie’s prefrontal cortex outwit her
heart? Or will she have to give in to her amygdala and find out, once
and for all, if this thing called love is more than just her brain on
drugs? (Goodreads)I liked This Is My Brain On Boys. I've read several of Strohmeyer's books and while this one wasn't my favorite, I still enjoyed reading it.

This Is My Brain on Boys is the story of Addie who believes she has the right formula to make anyone fall in love. She wants to use her research to win the Athenian Award and a scholarship to Harvard. Addie was an interesting and fairly well developed character. She gets straight to the point and prefers facts and science. She is certainly very focused and I admired that about her. Addie is awkward too though and sometimes needs help when it comes to interacting with other people. After the first few pages, I quickly became invested in learning more about her. I would have really liked to read more about her relationship with her family and more about her friendship with Tess though.

There were several side characters that were interesting. However, I would have liked to see themdeveloped more. Kris and Tess were both really important to the story, but I wanted to see the development of their characters pushed further.The few things that I did learn about both characters made me want to know them more. I especially felt that way regarding Kris because I didn't always understand why he made the choices that he made. Other than Kris and Tess though, I kept mixing up all of the other characters names.

The plot was paced fairly well. There was a lot of drama and a bit of humor.I genuinelyenjoyed the whole science and experiment aspect of the story. The first chapter immediately hooked me in, but then I felt like there were times when it slowed down in the middle. I found myself getting bored quite often and that certain scenes were dragging on for too long. The last quarter of the book did pick up the pace though and included anunexpected twist. I really liked the twist a lot, but it confused me a bit too.

Overall, I liked This Is My Brain On Boys. If you're looking for a contemporary book that is heavy on science, then I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Torn (A Wicked Saga #2)By: Jennifer L. ArmentroutReleased: July 19, 2016Source: E-ARC from InkSlinger PRPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewTorn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same. Everything
Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being
betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left
bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must
keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill
her. Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of
the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their
chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his
duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the
truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with
herself if she lies to him? But as the Fae Prince begins to close
in on Ivy, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld,
Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can
trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but
civilization itself. (Goodreads)I loved Torn and I just couldn't put this book down!I've been anxiously awaiting the release of the sequel to Wicked for a while and it was definitely worth the wait.

Torn picks up right where Wickedleft off. Ivy is still recovering after almost being killed and now she has learned a secret that the Order can never know.

Ivy continues to develop and grow in Torn. She went through a lot in Wicked and was betrayed by someone she thought she could always rely on. She stays determined though and doesn't back down, which is something that I admire about Ivy. She faces many new obstacles in this book and she realistically struggles with what choices to make.

I absolutely love the side characters in this series as well. I loved seeing Ren and Tink once again and seeing them both develop more. I especially thought that Tink was developed much more in this book and I loved learning more about him. Then there is the relationship between Ivy and Ren. I love the balance between them and seeing their relationship grow.

The plot was paced well and I found it so difficult to put this book down for long. I loved jumping back into this world that Armentrout created and the setting in New Orleans. Torn was packed with drama, romance, action, and surprising twists. This book definitely kept me guessing and there were times that I really didn't know what would happen next. The humor that I love and have come to expect in Armentrout's books was present throughout. I was literally laughing out loud at times, especially during some particular moments with Tink. The humor helped balance out some of the more darker moments that were taking place though.

Overall I loved Torn and I can't wait for the next book! If you're a fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout's previous books or if you're looking for an exciting New Adult story, then I highly recommend picking up this series. You won't want to put it down.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

History Is All You Left Me By: Adam SilveraRelease Date: January 17, 2017OCD-afflicted Griffin
has just lost his first love, Theo, in a drowning accident. In an
attempt to hold onto every piece of the past, he forges a friendship
with Theo's last boyfriend, Jackson. When Jackson begins to exhibit
signs of guilt, Griffin suspects he's hiding something, and will stop at
nothing to get to the truth about Theo's death. But as the grieving
pair grows closer, readers will question Griffin's own version of the
truth—both in terms of what he's willing to hide and what true love
means (Goodreads)

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Seventeen-year-old Violet has always been
expected to sit back and let the boys do all the saving.

It’s the code her father, a member of the Reign of
Terror motorcycle club, raised her to live by. Yet when her dad is killed
carrying out Terror business, Violet knows it’s up to her to do the saving. To
protect herself, and her vulnerable younger brother, she needs to cut all ties
with the club—including Chevy, the boy she’s known and loved her whole life.

But when a rival club comes after Violet, exposing
old secrets and making new threats, she’s forced to question what she thought
she knew about her father, the Reign of Terror, and what she thinks she wants.
Which means re-evaluating everything: love, family, friends . . . and
forgiveness.

Caught in the crosshairs between loyalty and
freedom, Violet must decide whether old friends can be trusted—and if she’s
strong enough to be the one person to save them all.

"An
intoxicating and unforgettable story that kept me glued to the page."

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and
boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a
lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE
LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and
the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING
THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's
2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a
double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also
a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s
Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

The Thousandth FloorBy: Katharine McGeeRelease Date: August 30, 2016

Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.A
hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and
dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and
everyone has something to lose.Leda Cole’s flawless exterior
belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a
boy she never should have touched.Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.Rylin
Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a
romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?Watt
Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about
everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds
himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.And living above
everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl
genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it
all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.(Goodreads)

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

The Last Time We Were UsBy: Leah KonenReleased: May 10, 2016Source: EdelweissPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest reviewLiz Grant is about to
have the summer of her life. She and her friend MacKenzie are getting
invited to all the best parties, and with any luck, Innis Taylor, the
most gorgeous guy in Bonneville, will be her boyfriend before the Fourth
of July. Local teen convict released early. Jason
Sullivan wasn’t supposed to come back from juvie. A million years ago,
he was her best friend, but that was before he ditched her for a
different crowd. Before he attacked Innis’s older brother, leaving
Skip’s face burned and their town in shock. “Everything is not what you think.” Liz
always found it hard to believe what they said about Jason, but all of
Bonneville thinks he’s dangerous. If word gets out she’s seeing him, she
could lose everything. But what if there’s more to that horrible night
than she knows? And how many more people will get hurt when the truth
finally comes out? (Goodreads)The Last Time We Were Usisa captivating story, but unfortunately this book wasn't for me. By the time I finished the last page, I just felt disappointed with the story and the characters.

The Last Time We Were Usis the story of Liz who is planning on having the best summer with her popular friends. However things become more complicated when her former best friend, Jason is released from juvie. He was sentenced for attacking the older brother of Liz's new boyfriend.

Liz was a character that I really struggled to connect with. I felt like she wasn't developed all that well and she came across as flat for the majority of the book.Liz wants so badly to be popular and to remain on the good side of the popular kids. She allows them to pressure her into situations and allows them to tell her what to do. She's absolutely a realistic teenage girl in realistic situations. The pressure to remain popular is realistic, but I felt like this book was missing more of Liz's own thoughts and emotions regarding that pressure.

The side characters and the romance also lacked development. I especially thought that Jason had a really interesting story, but it was never fully developed. I wanted to get to know Jason a lot more.

The plot felt rushed and repetitive.The main storyline was interesting and I was invested in it enough to finish this book. However, I felt like there were several side storylines going on as well that made it feel like there was just too much happening.

Overall The Last Time We Were Us was not for me. It was a story heavy on the drama with not enough development.

Disclaimer

All reviews published on this blog are based on books that I have either purchased myself or received from an author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is noted in the review whether I purchased a book myself or received the book from the publisher or author. I receive no compensation from any of the reviews that I publish. Unless otherwise noted, all photos used on this blog are from Google and are not owned by me.